Egypt: two ex-ministers arrested

Egypt has arrested two former government ministers and a businessman on suspicion of diverting public funds.

Former housing minister Ahmed al-Maghrabi has had his bank accounts frozen and been forbidden from leaving the countryPhoto: AP

11:00PM GMT 17 Feb 2011

Once widely feared former interior minister Habib el-Hadly was also arrested on suspicion of money-laundering and ordered held for 15 days, the same source said.

News of the arrests came just under a week after longtime president Hosni Mubarak resigned in the face of a popular uprising.

Prosecutors ordered former tourism minister Zuheir Garana, former housing minister Ahmed al-Maghrabi and businessman Ahmad Ezz also to be held for 15 days "to assist in an investigation," the source said.

The four are among a number of former ministers and officials who have had their bank accounts frozen and been barred from leaving the country. Britain, France, Germany and the United States say Egypt has called on them to freeze the accounts of ex-officials.

Ezz, a steel magnate, was a member of the former ruling National Democratic Party. He was considered to be a mentor of Gamal Mubarak, son of former president Hosni Mubarak and long considered a possible successor to his father.